Civic Principal

HDR•Tampa, FL

About The Position

HDR is seeking a strategic, client-focused Civic Principal to lead and grow its Civic practice throughout Florida. The role advances HDR’s presence across justice, public safety, municipal, county, state, and other civic sectors, while building relationships with public-sector clients and industry partners. The Civic Principal sets market strategy, drives business development and client engagement, leads major pursuits and project delivery, and mentors current and emerging practice leaders. The position serves as a visible representative of HDR in Florida and helps shape the Civic practice’s long-term regional growth strategy. The Civic Principal works with architecture, engineering, planning, and consulting leaders to deliver integrated solutions for communities. The role includes establishing practice objectives and business plans; developing client accounts and pursuing significant opportunities; providing executive oversight of project quality, performance, client satisfaction, risk, and financial results; and supporting staffing, contracts, and delivery strategies. The Principal also develops staff, promotes collaboration and design excellence, and contributes to business forecasting, resource management, and strategic investment decisions. Travel throughout the region and occasionally North America is required. HDR describes its architecture work as addressing societal challenges and creating stronger communities through spaces and experiences that support community well-being. The company emphasizes resilience, sustainability, innovative building technologies, integrated design, and its stated pillars: Towards a Regenerative Future, Community Well-Being, and Transforming Project Delivery. The Civic Principal is expected to advance these priorities, support sustainable design literacy, and lead AIA 2030 reporting for design projects through HDR’s energy-modeling initiative.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture.
15 years of related professional experience.
At least 7 years of project management experience.
Registered Architect.
Experience on large-scale projects.
Ability to lead project teams and make client presentations.
Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Project.
Extensive knowledge and experience in the local and regional market.
Strong team leadership, mentoring, motivational, organizational, and people skills.
Willingness to travel.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Commitment to participating actively in HDR’s employee-owned culture.

Nice To Haves

Proven record of winning and delivering significant civic, justice, public safety, municipal, county, state, or community-focused projects.
Demonstrated success in business development, client management, and market growth.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and complex project pursuits.
Strong understanding of Florida public-sector procurement processes and project delivery methods.
Established relationships with Florida public-sector agencies, municipalities, counties, or civic institutions.
Experience as Principal-in-Charge or Executive Sponsor on large-scale civic projects.
Active participation in AIA, DBIA, SAME, ULI, SCUP, APWA, or similar professional organizations.
Understanding of California sustainability, resilience, and public infrastructure initiatives.
Experience in sustainable and/or regenerative design.
Understanding of basic building physics, low-carbon materials, and high-performance design strategies.
Desire to integrate holistic sustainable processes into design projects at early design stages.

Responsibilities

Establish and execute the vision, strategy, and growth objectives for HDR’s Civic practice.
Lead efforts to meet annual business performance goals, including net fee bookings, revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion.
Identify emerging opportunities in municipal, county, state, justice, public safety, and community projects, and position HDR as a leading civic design and consulting partner.
Represent HDR through professional organizations, industry associations, conferences, and community engagement.
Promote compliance with HDR’s three pillars: Towards a Regenerative Future, Community Well-Being, and Transforming Project Delivery.
Advance HDR sustainability initiatives, elevate sustainable design literacy, and ensure integrated design processes on projects.
Spearhead AIA 2030 reporting for design projects through HDR’s 100% energy-modeling initiative.
Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with public-sector clients, elected officials, agency leaders, and industry partners.
Lead strategic client account planning, capture planning, and pursuit efforts for major civic opportunities.
Direct proposal development, interview preparation, and pursuit strategies for high-profile projects.
Collaborate with local, regional, and national leadership to identify and secure significant project opportunities.
Expand HDR’s civic-market visibility and reputation through thought leadership and community engagement.
Maintain networks of consultants, contractors, developers, and other stakeholders to support market intelligence and growth.
Serve as Principal-in-Charge, Executive Sponsor, Project Director, or similar leader on key civic projects.
Provide executive oversight of project performance, quality, client satisfaction, risk management, and financial results.
Support project teams with contract negotiations, project planning, staffing, and delivery strategies.
Ensure project execution meets HDR standards for design excellence, innovation, quality, and operational performance.
Promote cross-disciplinary collaboration to deliver comprehensive client solutions.
Mentor and develop Civic practice leaders and emerging professionals.
Foster collaboration, accountability, innovation, and client-service excellence.
Support recruiting, retention, succession planning, and workforce development.
Collaborate with regional and national Civic leadership on practice advancement and knowledge sharing.
Champion design excellence, sustainability, resilience, and community-focused design.
Lead business planning, forecasting, resource management, and strategic investment decisions for the Civic sector.
Participate in Go/No-Go evaluations, risk reviews, fee approvals, contract negotiations, and major pursuit decisions.
Support CRM management, pipeline development, and strategic opportunity tracking.
Coordinate with regional and national leadership to achieve long-term business objectives.
Travel throughout the region and occasionally throughout North America as needed.
Lead teams on projects and make client presentations.